Jane Bailey Derthick, 73, of Signal Mountain passed away on November 6, 2009, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer.

Jane was born in Welch, West Virginia to Mabel Claire and E. Cassidy Bailey. She was educated in the public schools of West Virginia, Mississippi and Chattanooga, graduating from Chattanooga High School in 1954. She continued her education at the University of Tennessee where her academic, leadership and service achievements were recognized through her designation as a "Torchbearer" at the time of her graduation in 1958 with a B.S. degree in Education. After graduation she taught elementary grades at Avondale and Signal Mountain Elementary schools until the birth of her first child. She then became a full-time wife, mother, homemaker and civic volunteer until her youngest child left for college when, virtually by accident, she began a career in the tourism industry. This career began inauspiciously when a close friend invited her to use some of her newly acquired free time as a step-on guide for motor coach groups visiting Chattanooga. The success of this venture drew her to the broader field of tourism promotion which she pursued in several positions for the next 31 years. She was first recruited as Promotions Manager for The Southern Highlands Attractions, an organization representing 17 of the leading tourist attractions in the Southern Appalachian region, including Ruby Falls, Rock City and the Lookout Mountain Incline locally and extending as far as Biltmore Estates in North Carolina and Luray Caverns in Virginia. She later served for many years as the Vice President for Marketing at Ruby Falls where she represented the attraction regionally and nationally. She completed her professional career as the Marketing Director for All Aboard USA headquartered in Chattanooga.

Jane was active in many professional tourism groups, serving on the boards of The Tennessee Bus Association, The North Carolina Bus Association and The Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau where she served as its chairperson in 1992 during the development of the Chattanooga Visitors Center. Through the friendships she formed with tourism leaders from afar in her volunteer work she was able to enhance Chattanooga’s image all across the country. She became a source of knowledge, information and advice for many in the industry and a mentor for younger professionals.

Jane was brought up in First Baptist Church of Chattanooga where she accepted Christ as her savior and began her life journey of faith. After marriage she transferred to be with her husband at First Christian Church where she taught children’s Sunday school and served as a youth sponsor. Having a child born with Cystic Fibrosis, she was instrumental in organizing the local chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation and worked over the years on such projects as horse shows, candle sales and other fund raising projects to help find a cure for this dreaded disease.

Jane’s greatest joy in life, however, was her family. Last December, she and her husband, Alan, celebrated 50 years of a happy marriage which grew stronger and deeper as the years went by. Her children, Mark Alan (Mimi) of Pittsburgh and Steven John (Barbara) of Chattanooga and Cali, Colombia brought her great satisfaction through their close relationship and the pride she felt in the exemplary lives each has lived. Her life was further enriched by her grandchildren, Ian, Anna and Joel Derthick, as well as by her surrogate grandchildren Areli and Julieta Hernandez, her brother John Bailey (Carol), nephew John Bailey, Jr (Karen) and niece Janice (Matt) Abbott.

Jane was the person many family members confided in and turned to in difficult times. She worked to maintain close ties with her widely spread extended family by organizing family reunion house parties every year for the past 32 years which drew loyal participation from family members located literally across the world. She intended this tradition to endure for succeeding generations and had already made specific arrangements for the reunions in 2010 and 2011.

Jane’s funeral service will be held at First Christian Church, 650 McCallie Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Paul Rebello and Rev Aline Summerlin officiating. A private burial will take place at the National Cemetery with Family only present.

Visitation will be held at the Derthick residence, 602 Marr Dr., Signal Mountain from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to First Christian Church, Hospice of Chattanooga or a favorite charity.

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Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home – East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road.